S&P 500 and Nasdaq Hit Fresh Record Highs

Wall Street closed at fresh records on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both finishing at all-time highs. The rally was led by technology and semiconductor stocks, with Intel shares surging and pulling the broader chip sector higher. Hopes that the US and Iran may enter peace talks added to investor optimism, easing concerns about Middle East-linked supply disruptions. Indian markets followed the positive mood higher. Two distinct forces drove the session: sector strength from corporate earnings beats and a geopolitical tailwind from the Iran talk reports. Strong earnings across several companies gave investors confidence that profit growth remains intact even as borrowing costs stay high. The Federal Reserve's next policy meeting is now the key event on traders' calendars. Markets want clarity on when, or whether, the Fed will cut interest rates. Any signal of earlier cuts would likely boost equities further, while a hawkish tone could pull back some of the recent gains. For Indian markets, a record Wall Street close typically supports foreign investor appetite for emerging market equities, making the Fed's guidance especially relevant for near-term flows into Indian stocks.